Orange Business Services is supporting UK-based start-up Stonelin Communications in launching a trio of tracking devices designed to tap into diverse opportunities in the rapidly expanding Internet of Things (IoT) market. The services will improve automotive, patient and worker safety and performance.

Orange will provide IoT connectivity services to Stonelin in Europe and Asia over the next five years. Orange Business Services has been involved closely with Stonelin since the prototype stages of the devices, providing advice on optimal IoT connectivity solutions. Stonelin has already run successful trials using Orange SIM technology for the new devices in strategic locations across the globe.

Stonelin plans to launch its first product – V-Trak – a low-cost aftermarket vehicle tracker, designed for fleet managers to monitor vehicle location and driver vehicle performance, in the first half of 2017. Unlike other fleet vehicle trackers on the market, it does not require any special fittings, which means there is no time lost while the car is off the road.

This will be followed by the launch of D-Trak, a dementia and Alzheimer’s ‘lost person’ wearable tracking device with unique power management features that can track and locate patients when they wander. A base station will act as a charger to the tracker via Bluetooth, allowing the device to stay in low-power consumption mode, until a virtual fence set up by the patient’s caregiver is breached.

Last, Stonelin will release W-Trak, a tracker for carergivers working in the homecare sector where they are employed to look after people’s health and welfare needs. The tracker will monitor how much time the caregiver spends travelling and how much time is spent in each person’s home.

These innovative tracking technologies are built on the success of Pettorway, a real-time GPS pet tracker, which was developed by Stonelin’s founders.

“With our planned IoT portfolio, performance is paramount. As a start-up, the Orange experience in GPS tracking, IoT connectivity and connected device data support has been invaluable in the development of our tracking products and will ensure they realize their full potential,” explained Steven Stone, managing director, Stonelin.

“We are proud to support Stonelin with their innovative tracking technology. As a global provider, we can support them with accurate and wide scale IoT coverage. And with our Datavenue IoT and data analytics offer, we look forward to helping companies like Stonelin capitalize on the ever-increasing connected world and data explosion,” commented Helmut Reisinger, executive vice president, International at Orange Business Services.